Here are just a couple of our many Service Dog success stories...

Pom-Therapy Service Dog in Training (SDiT): "Pepperpod"

Pepperpod and his handler, Mackenzie. Mackenzie is only 14, but she is training her own Service Dog and doing very well. She is given tasks each week and instruction on how to train Pepperpod, and we have a phone session on Sunday to answer questions, address training issues, and learn the next step in training. Pepperpod was a Level-I Certified Service Dog when he went to live with Mackenzie, and he is well on his way to his Level-II Certification after just a few months. Well done, Mackenzie and Pepperpod!

Pom-Therapy Service Dog: "Forest"Note that Forest is trained as a "Service Dog" -- not a "Therapy Dog", or an "Emotional Support Dog". The terminology is important because of the legal distinctions made between the categories: Service Dogs are granted legal protection to go places where all other dogs (including Therapy and ESDs) cannot. Service Dogs can be thought of as a "prescription" that is authorized by a medical doctor or a psychiatrist.

The Training

Forest was not yet a year old, but was at the top of both his Puppy Kindergarten and his Obedience Classes. He is a bundle of joy but is also very sensitive and devoted with a strong work ethic. He is as happy racing around out of pure joy as he is sitting quietly on his handler's lap. He loves all other dogs and is friendly to people, but he is truly devoted to only one person, his handler, Gayla B., of Manhattan, NY, who he will follow from room to room. Forest has been trained to all three levels of Psychiatric Service Dog as follows:Level I Training – Intensive Socialization: multiple person handling through neonate and puppy stages (play Pass-the-Puppy), exposure to loud noises, uneven/unstable surfaces, sudden movements (umbrella opening, items thrown overhead), strange clothing/appearance (Dress-Up Day), wheelchairs, scooters, bikes, motorcycles, skateboards, in-line skates, grocery carts, fire trucks, ambulances, mass-transit, elevators, escalators, open-backed stairs, high places, and more. Forest was exposed to numerous stressful situations and never demonstrated unacceptable behavior such as hackles-up, growling, showing teeth, lunging, biting, aggression, or excessive fear. Grooming: Forest was taught to tolerate bathing, prolonged brushing, toenail trims, teeth examinations, and ear-cleaning in addition to ear, belly, and foot-hair trims.Level II Training – Basic Obedience Training (Heel, Sit, Down, Stand, Stay, Wait, Come, Get-Up, Get-Down), all conducted in public places with maximum distractions, stimuli, and noise. Proofing of commands was done in downtown Toronto, on mass-transit, in restaurants, and in busy commercial business locations.

Level III Training– The final level of Psychiatric Service Dog training involved training Forest to three specific tasks related to his handler’s personal needs: Cradle, Hug, and Settle; Assistance Dogs For All provided this training at the client's living environment (including work, medical, social, and other locations). Upon completion of the 1-week intensive one-on-one Level III Training, Forest and his handler, Gayla, passed the Psychiatric Service Dog Society's Public Access Certification Test; results were recorded using audio-visual equipment.

Positive Training leads to Positive Results!

Forest adjusts to Big City Life

Forest moved from the small town of Peterborough, Ontario, to his new home in Manhattan in The Big Apple!!! True to his stable and bold temperament, Forest took ALL SORTS of new experiences in stride as a result of his early and intensive socialization with new people, places, and things! Here, Forest poses in front of some intricate graffiti in his pink hoodie sweater!

Forest Goes Shopping!

Forest's handler reports: "We took him into the Louis Vuitton store [in Manhattan!] and they LOVED him!! They couldn't believe he was only 10 months, because he was so calm and well-mannered. :D"

Forest in the Workplace

Forest goes to work with his handler; she reports: "Everyone at my work is OBSESSED with Forest. He's SO well behaved! When I'm doing work he will sit right next to me and not make a single sound. We can even have him in the room when we're recording, because he's so quiet and well-behaved. We call him the studio mascot! :D"

Forest with other Dogs

Not every thing is work for Forest; he gets to go to the Small Dog Park regularly to just be a dog! Gayla reports: "This is one of Forest's friends, Puffin!!! They're about the same age and size. They don't run around and play, but they always sit down near each other and look at each other! :) "

Forest and Boo!

A friend of Gayla's was so envious of the beautifully behaved Forest, that he went out and bought "Boo"! When Forest first saw Boo, he politely tried to sniff its rear!

Forest Tolerates EVERYTHING Well!

Here, Forest is shown dressed in his snowsuit, with his booties on to protect his feet from salt and chemicals. Forest was not specifically trained to tolerate clothing and booties, but he was trained to tolerate all manner of new and strange situations. Once again, he took the new challenge he was presented with in stride!

We are very proud of this awesome example of how much difference a Pom Therapy Service Dog can make in his handler's life!